Soma Mr. Salazar, Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador, 70%

Costa Esmeraldas is a single estate cacao farm owned by the Salazar family on the NW coast of Ecuador. The steep 100-hectare site is planted with Nacional-Venezolano Amarillo cacao. The pods are transported daily during harvest, beans meticulously fermented and sun-dried at their brand new post-harvest facility close to the farm.

Oranges, limes, lemons, plantain, bananas, guayaba, and papaya are grown interspersed with the cacao to reduce erosion on the steep terrain.

Origin: Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Cacao content: 70%

Tasting notes: lemon, bread, cherries, balsamic vinegar, brownies, green bananas